The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s 13th franchise, are gearing up for their debut in the 2025 season. As part of their preparation, the team will take part in a major step of roster-building: the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft, set to take place on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on ESPN. This event is pivotal for both the franchise and the league, as the Valkyries will begin assembling their team for their inaugural season.
What Is The WNBA Expansion Draft?
The WNBA Expansion Draft is where new teams in a professional sports league select players from the existing teams. It allows a franchise like the Golden State Valkyries to form a competitive roster by picking players from a pool of unprotected athletes, who have not been safeguarded by their current teams. This process ensures that the new team has a fair opportunity to create a competitive squad while maintaining balance across the league.
Key Facts About The 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft
- When is it happening? Friday, December 6, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the event broadcast live on ESPN.
- Who can the Golden State Valkyries pick? The Valkyries will have the chance to select one player from each of the 12 existing WNBA teams. Each team will submit a list of all players they have rights to (including active, suspended, core, draft, and reserved players). However, teams can protect up to six players, which means those players will not be available for selection. Any player not protected will be eligible for the Valkyries to choose.
- Which players are eligible to be selected? Each of the 12 WNBA teams were required to submit their roster list by Monday, November 25, 2024. This list included all players under contract or with other league rights, such as suspended or core players. The Valkyries will select from the unprotected players who are left off their teams’ protected lists.
- What if a player isn’t signed for the 2025 season? If the Valkyries select a player who isn’t under contract for the 2025 season, the team will acquire whatever rights the original team had for that player, which could include future negotiation rights. If the player is already signed for 2025, Golden State will assume their contract.
- Can the Valkyries choose an unrestricted free agent? Yes, Golden State can select one player who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season. However, this player must not have been under a Core Player contract for two or more years. If the Valkyries choose this player, they can designate them as their Core Player when the designation period begins in January 2025.
- Who’s Leading the Charge? Ohemaa Nyanin, General Manager of the Golden State Valkyries. Since joining the team seven months ago, Nyanin has been tasked with building the basketball operations side of the new franchise. Her next major task will come this Friday when she leads the Valkyries in selecting their first group of players in the WNBA Expansion Draft.
WNBA Expansion Draft: The Road Ahead for the Valkyries
Although the Expansion Draft is an important step, it is just the beginning of the Valkyries’ roster-building process. After the draft, the team will continue to strengthen its lineup through other avenues, such as the 2025 WNBA Draft (taking place on April 14, 2025) and the free agency period, which starts in February 2025.
In the 2025 WNBA Draft, Golden State will hold the 5th overall pick, as well as the 5th pick in both the second and third rounds, which will give them a strong foundation to build a competitive squad.
WNBA Expansion Draft: Flexibility In Player Selection
The Valkyries do not have to follow any positional requirements when making their selections. This flexibility allows the team to choose the best available players regardless of their position. With no specific positional constraints, Golden State’s decisions will be guided by factors such as player potential, team fit, and future development.
After the WNBA Expansion Draft, the Golden State Valkyries will focus on adding more talent to their roster during free agency and the draft. This ensures the team can fully build out its lineup before the 2025 season begins. The league’s newest team is ready to hit the ground running, and fans are eagerly awaiting the players who will make up the foundation of the Valkyries’ first-ever squad.